13+ non-boarding school for girls - not in London

[DebratsEtiquette]

Please can you help me with an initial short list of good schools that take girls (co-ed or single sex) at 13+. If you have info. On numbers of spaces for 13+ v 11+ that would also be helpful. Looking to figure out potential paths for our daughter from her prep which prepares for the 13+. She could leave earlier of course but would rather she stays until 13+.

If you don't want boarding then you need to tell us which part of the country you do want - as a day pupil you're going to need to narrow it down a bit more than "not London"!

Very true - but that's part of the problem. I can be flexible as I have time to plan a move. I like and know 'the north' including Scotland, but don't want to limit us too much so then thought cast the net wide and see what comes back - if that's loads then this probably isn't the right approach (but helps me in at least knowing there are lots of options!).

There are loads though! Lots of co-ed boarding schools take day pupils, both boys and girls at 13. You could look at Stowe at 13 or Wycombe Abbey at 11 or 13. Lots of girls schools recruit at both 11 or 13. Why don't you say what type of school? Academic, sporty, music and drama .... Etc. Your search is just enormous.

Thanks Pottering and Bojo. This probably wasn't the best approach. I think I'm just going to set aside this weekend to do some thinking. But glad to at least know we're not just looking at a handful of options. Thanks.

You need to decide on a rough area and come back to us

What are her strengths and interests? Sport. Art. Drama. Sciences?

Thanks everyone. Interests (at 9) are sciences and languages but know these might change. Academically speaking, above average in her class but not top (although would say if she set her mind on somewhere very academic she has the raw materials to give it a reasonable shot). Rough areas to start the search are probably Scotland, North (preference for East, but West ok too - down as far as Cheshire - appreciate for some of you that's probably North!!). Thanks again.

Cheltenham Ladies College
Ribston Hall

Roedean fits your criteria and is an excellent day school, single sex. Wouldn't work if you're not roughly south east based though

Thanks everyone. Re. Current school, you are quite right that is should be my first point of call but I'd like to have a rough idea of schools (rather just than nodding along - Wycombe Abbey and Fettes have been mentioned and looking at Leavers destinations I can also get an idea. But I'm also interested in doing my own research (by which I include MN and looking at the Good Schools guide and various other online publications!). I'm keen to know of schools where it's not just a few girls joining at 13+, are there schools for girls/co-ed where the majority of girls join at 13+?

Fettes, Edinburgh - easier as a day pupil or Ampleforth, beautiful area to live.
Newcastle High school for Girls is also very good.

**Must - the Head Master sees it as his mission to find the right school for the child, which is really great, I just feel I should have my own knowledge too (and at the moment I really know nothing - as is probably very obvious from my post!)

Schools such as Wellington College and Charterhouse are 13-18 schools that although mostly boarding also have day pupils or are you looking for a purely day school. Or are you thinking an 11-18 school with a significant 13+ cohort?
This list from a girls prep that finishes at 13 maybe a good starting list www.hanford.dorset.sch.uk/about_hanford/destination-schools

Sorry just seen previous post. All probibly too south for you

Thanks everyone. Mary - even though that specific list isn't quite right - looking at other prep school destinations is a great idea!

If you want Scotland then there is only really St George's (primarily day) in Edinburgh and Kilgraston in Perth (more boarders but still a lot of day pupils) as stand alone girls schools. Both are, however, all through schools so only a tiny amount will start at age 13 especially at St George's as many come from state at 12.

For co-ed Glenalmond in Perth will do day pupils but definitely in the minority, the main thing is they have a large intake at 13 as the school is really a 13-18 age group. A very small intake at 12 for some coming from state but it is very small cohort.

Durham High is a girls only day school in a beautiful little city.

The vast majority of girls schools start at 11. However some have a reasonable intake at 13. I would look at the Good Schools Guide for starters because I think it has just been reported that there are far less independent schools in the North than the West and South and South East. I would trawl through the ones that tick the boxes. At our old prep
the Wycombe Abbey girls went at 13. London preps were more likely to send at 11. Ditto with CLC. WA is top drawer and not mid academic and needing a push though, so think carefully. Also not in the North or Scotland. There are schools in York, Harrogate and Newcastle and Edinburgh you could consider.

Thanks Bojo - can you clarify what you mean by 'needing a push through' at WA. Thank you

Though - not through :)

Debrats you need to focus on co-ed boarding schools for predominantly 13+ entry for girls and also those schools with sufficient day pupils. Otherwise your DD will yearn for boarding as she will feel left-out of friendship circles.
King's Canterbury, St Edwards Oxford, Wellington are examples in SE that are all popular with a sizeable day intake. I am pretty sure that Brighton College (boarders are mainly weekly) have a big intake at 13 and would be the nearest academic equivalent to WA.
If your DD is quite outgoing and mixes well, she will be fine joining a girls' school as a minority' day girl intake at 13.